Container for use with a securing device

ABSTRACT

A container having an open top includes at least one handle. The handle includes a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the general field of industrial plastic containers, or pails, having any capacity with lids, and is more particularly directed to containers with handles, such as a one gallon to twelve gallon industrial pails.

Industrial plastic containers normally include a lid, or cover. In order to hold the cover over the container in a closed condition, it is necessary that the cover and container have latching structure which can be manually opened and closed with relative ease. However, the structure should be capable of locking the cover over the container in closed condition to avoid accidental opening.

Various types of latching or locking structures have been proposed in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,582 discloses a container including locking lugs and closure slots which operate to hold a cover on the container; U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,138 discloses a container with a locking cover; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,427 discloses structure which locks a cover onto a container.

Merely locking the cover over the container, however, is not always sufficient. The plastic shipping container industry and the federal department of transportation (DOT), and other regulatory agencies maintain standards to specify various performance level of pails, one of them is the drop impact test. In the drop impact test, open head pails are filled with water, sealed and dropped in different positions from different heights, the most severe test is a drop on a 45 degree over the top. When drop in that orientation, the containers usually fail because of the lids pops open during impact.

Conventional covers are available that pass this drop test but they suffer from not being easily removed from the container. Attempts have been made to overcome this deficiency. For example, in one prior art container disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,659, a latching structure including mating male and female rib elements is asserted to provide a latching action which permits ease of manual operation in opening and closing the latching structure on the container.

Further attempts of locking mechanism are disclosed in several other patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,273 which discloses a container with a cover lockable thereon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,218 which discloses a latch for a container, U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,839 which discloses a container tension ring closure with a lever, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,569 which discloses a reusable lid and container with a lid having locking tabs and the container being provided with openings. Most of these previous attempts to lock a lid onto a container require difficult to mold and produce lid covers and pails, as well as, result in covers which are difficult to use.

Even when a cover is securable over the open top of a container, it is often desirable to prevent a container from falling all together. Therefore, it is not only desirable to have a container which can accommodate a device the secures a cover to the container, it is also desirable to have a container that can accommodate a device that secures the container to a platform or other containers to minimize the likelihood of the container being dropped.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container and method of use which solves the above problems. In one embodiment, a container incorporating the present invention includes at least one substantially vertical wall having a top edge defining an open top. At least one handle forming part of includes a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device.

A general objective of the present invention is to provide a container which has structure that secures a cover over an open top of the container or the container relative to a platform or other containers. This objective is accomplished by providing a container with a handle including a handle wall having an opening. The opening can receive a securing device, such as a latch or shipping strap that secures the cover over the container open top or the container relative to a platform or other containers.

The foregoing and other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plastic industrial container incorporating the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a-c are a front, right and top view of the latch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is a detailed front view of the bail handle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 b is a sectional view along line 3 b-3 b of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3 c is a top view of the bail handle of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 is a view of the container of FIG. 1 with the cover secured by the latch;

FIG. 5 a is a detailed view of the container of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 b is a sectional view along line 5 b-5 b of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 is a side view of he container of FIG. 4 with the wire bail;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention with a shipping strap;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention with a hold-down clamp;

FIGS. 10 a-b are a top and side view of a polygonal container incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 11 a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention with a heavy duty industrial type lid cover;

FIG. 11 b is a sectional view along line 11 b-11 b of FIG. 11 a;

FIG. 12 a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 12 b is a front view of the handle of FIG. 12 a;

FIG. 12 c is a front view if the latch of FIG. 12 a;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a secured layer of containers shown in FIG. 12 a;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 16 a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 16 b is a side view of the latch of FIG. 16 a;

FIGS. 17 a and b are a side and front view of an alternate securing device suitable for use with a container described herein; and

FIGS. 18 a and b are a side and front view of an another alternate securing device suitable for use with a container described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, a plastic cylindrical industrial container 10 includes an “Easy-Off” re-usable lid cover 30 which snaps over an open top of the container 10. A bail 70 having opposing ends 72 is fixed to the container 10 by diametrically opposed bail handles 20 attached to the container 10. Each end 72 of the bail 70 engages one of the bail handles 20 using a snap fit which allows removal of the bail 70 from the bail handles 20. A latch 50 engaging each of the bail handles 20 includes a hook 64 that secures the cover 30 over the container open top. Advantageously, the latch 50 inhibits the cover 30 from popping open during the impact of a drop. Moreover, the present invention provides an easily produced container 10 that can be securely shipped individually and on a pallet.

The cylindrical container 10 includes a cylindrical, substantially vertical, container wall 12 having an upper edge 16 defining the open top. The bottom of the container 10 is closed by a bottom wall 14 joining a lower edge 18 of the container wall 12. Circumferential ribs 28 extending radially outwardly from the container wall 12 strengthen the container 10 to increase the container load capacity. A snap rib 42 formed at the upper edge 16 of the container wall 12 engages the cover 30 in a snap fit relation to secure the cover 30 over the open top.

The “Easy-off” re-usable cover 30 extends over the open top and includes a periphery edge 34 having a downwardly opening annular groove 31 which receives the snap rib 42 without a gasket. A locking lip 33 extending downwardly from the periphery edge 34 of the cover 30 past the snap rib 42 includes a soft undercut 32 that engages the snap rib 42 to secure the cover 30 over the container open top. Advantageously, the soft undercut 32 allows a soft opening (i.e. a smooth removal of the cover 30 without substantially disturbing the container contents) of the cover 30 to provide an easily removable cover.

The cover 30 is further secured to the container 10 by two latches 50. Each latch 50 engages one of the bail handles 20 formed as an integral part of the container wall 12. Although two latches 50 and diametrically opposed bail handles 20 are disclosed, any number of latches 50 and bail handles 20 can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 a-3 c, each bail handle 20 includes substantially parallel side walls 22, 23 extending radially outwardly from the container 10 and formed as an integral part of the container 10. A bail handle top wall 24 and front wall 21 join the side walls 22, 23 to form the bail handle 20. Preferably, the circumferential ribs 28 are formed as an integral part of the bail handle 20 to strengthen the bail handle 20.

The bail handle top wall 24 extends outwardly from the container wall 12 and has an opening 25 for receiving an attachment end 44 of the latch 50 to secure the latch 50 to the bail handle 20. Rounded stops 29 extending from an inner surface 46 of the top wall 24 engage the latch attachment end 44 to minimize lateral movement of the latch 50 in the opening 25. Although a rectangular opening 25 is shown for receiving the attachment end 44 of the latch 50, the opening 25 can have any shape, such as round, oval, polygonal, free form, and the like, without departing from the scope of the invention. Advantageously, the bail handle 20 is molded as an integral part of the container 10 which simplifies fabrication and minimizes cost.

In the preferred embodiment, the front wall 21 of the bail handle 20 includes a downwardly opening bail slot 58 for receiving one end 72 of the bail 70. A lower portion 26 of the bail slot 58 is widened and guides the bail end 72 toward a receptacle 27 formed at an upper end of the bail slot 58. Preferably, the receptacle 27 is circular and allows the bail 70 to rotate in the receptacle 27. Although a downwardly opening bail slot 58 is preferred to simplify attaching the bail 70 to the bail handle 20, the bail handle 20 can include a closed slot, or opening, through the front wall 21 for receiving and end 72 of the bail 70 without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, although the bail handles 20 in the preferred embodiment also serves to secure the bail 70 to the container 10, the latches 50 can be connected to handles substantially identical to the bail handles 20 described herein less structure for engaging a bail without departing from the scope of the invention.

The latch 50 shown in FIGS. 2 a-c is preferably made of resilient material, such as plastic, rubber, and the like, and has a body 56 with the attachment end 44 and a hook end 51. The attachment end 44 includes a bottom ledge 52 that is bigger in both width and length compared to the opening 25 of the bail handle 20. A body extension 53 extends downwardly from the ledge 52 and includes barbs 54 that engage the inner surface 46 of the top wall 24. Preferably, the distance 59 between the ledge 52 and distal ends of the barbs 54 is no greater than the width of the top wall 24 to sandwich the top wall 24 between the ledge 52 and barbs 54 and ensure the latch 50 securely engages the bail handle top wall 24. The hook end 51 includes a top hook 64 which wraps over the periphery edge 34 of the cover 30 to secure the cover 30 over the container open top. Although a latch 50 formed from a resilient material is preferred, the latch can be formed from non-resilient materials, such as metal, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In use, material is poured into the container 10 through the open top, and the cover 30 is snapped onto the snap rib 42. The latch body extension 53 is fed from above through the opening 25 in the bail handle 20 until the barbs 54 engage the inner surface 46 of the bail handle top wall 24. The resilient body 56 of the latch 50 is then stretched and the hook 64 of the latch 50 is wrapped over the periphery edge 34 of the cover 30 to secure the cover 30 over the open top of the container 10. Of course, if the body 56 has limited resilience and a length sufficient to secure the cover 30 over the open top of the container 10 without stretching, the hook 64 can be wrapped over the periphery edge 34 of the cover 30 prior to urging the body extension 53 of the latch 50 through the opening 25 in the bail handle 20.

In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the containers 10 with covers 30 are stacked on a pallet. Instead of using the latch 50 as a securing device, a shipping strap 80 is fed through the openings 25 in the bail handle top walls 24 and positioned over the cover 30 of a top container 10 to secure the stack of containers 10 on the pallet.

Securing devices other than shipping straps and latches can be used with the container handle 20. As shown in FIG. 9, a securing device in the form of a hold-down clamp 90 securing the container 10 to a platform, such as a ladder shelf, floor plate, and the like, includes a connection end 94 engaging the container handle 20 and an opposing end 96 anchored to the platform 92. The connection end 94 is fed through the opening 25 from the bottom. A threaded post (not shown) forming part of the connection end 94 extends upwardly from the opening 25 and threadably engages a wing nut 98 that secures the clamp 90 to the container handle 20. The opposing end 96 of the clamp 90 extends through a hole 102 formed through the platform 92 and is anchored to the platform 92 by an enlarged head 104 forming part of the clamp opposing end 96 and engaging a downwardly facing surface 106 of the platform 92. Of course, other simple securing devices, such as hooks, wires, bars, rope, and the like can be used with the container without departing from the scope of the invention.

Although a cylindrical container 10 is disclosed, other shaped container, such as a polygonal containers 110 shown in FIGS. 10 a and b, can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. As in the embodiments described above, the container 110 shown in FIGS. 9 a and b includes a bail handle 120 and latch 150, as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 11 a and b, other types of covers, such as a heavy duty industrial type cover 230 covering an open top of an industrial container 210 can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. The heavy duty industrial type cover 230 includes a gasket 232 and inner lip 234 which provides a more secure seal with the container 210. As in the embodiments described above, the industrial container 210 is provided with a bail handle 220 and latch 250, as described above.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 a-c, a container 310 includes a handle 320 having latch openings 325 in handle sides 322, 323 for engaging a latch 350. As shown in FIG. 11 a, the container 310 is substantially identical to the container 10 described above with the exception that the a latch openings are formed in each of the opposing handle sides 322, 323.

The latch 350 includes a body 356 with an attachment end 344 and a hook end 351. The attachment end 344 is specifically designed for engaging both of the latch openings 325, and includes a yoke 326 having a pair of arms 328 straddling the handle 320. Each arm 328 includes a distal end 332 having a body extension in the form of an inwardly extending hook 335. Each hook 335 engages one of the latch openings 325 to attach the latch 350 to the handle 320. The hook end 351 is substantially identical to the hook end 51 of the embodiment described above, and includes a top hook 364 which wraps over the periphery edge 334 of the cover 330 to secure the cover 330 over the container open top.

The handle 320 also includes aligned strap openings 338 formed through each handle side wall 322, 323. As shown in FIG. 13, the shipping strap 380 is fed through the openings 25 in the handle side walls 322, 324 and around a portion of the circumference of the container 310. Preferably, the shipping strap 380 wraps around a layer of containers 310 on a pallet to hold the layer of containers 310 together as a single unit to simplify shipping and minimize the likelihood of one of the containers 310 falling off of the pallet.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 14, a container 410 includes a circumferential handle 420, or skirt, formed around a container wall 412. The circumferential handle 420 includes a radially extending top wall 424 having a distal end 426. A front wall 421 extends downwardly from the distal end 426. One or more circumferentially spaced ribs (not shown) extending between the container wall 412 and front wall 421 can be provided to support the front wall 421. Although a circumferential handle extending continuously around the container 410 is shown, the circumferential handle can extend around only a portion of the container and/or be discontinuous without departing from the scope of the invention.

As described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, openings 425 formed in the top wall 424 engage a latch 450 to secure the latch 450 to the handle 420. The latch 450 can be substantially identical to the latch 50 described above. Although the circumferential handle 420 disclosed in FIG. 14 includes a front wall 421, the front wall 421 can be omitted as shown in FIG. 15 without departing from the scope of the invention.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 a and b, a container 510 includes a circumferential handle 520 formed around a container wall 512, such as the circumferential handle 420 shown in FIG. 14. Openings 525 formed in a front wall 521 of the handle 520 engage a latch 550 to secure the latch 550 to the handle 520.

The latch 550 shown in FIG. 16 b includes an attachment end 544 having an upwardly depending hook 536 that is received in the opening 525 to attach the latch 550 to the handle 520. A hook end 551 of the latch 550 includes a top hook 564 which wraps over the periphery edge 534 of the cover 530 to secure the cover 530 over the container open top.

Latches other than those described above can also be used with the containers 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a tamper evident latch 650 shown in FIGS. 17 a and b and described with reference to the container 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a body 656 having a hook end 651 and attachment end 644, as in latch 50 described above. The latch 650 sown in FIGS. 17 a and b is substantially non-resilient, such as being formed from metal or a non-resilient plastic, and engages both the handle 20 and cover 30, as described above, to secure the cover 30 over the container open top. In order to remove the latch 650, a weakened portion 658 of the body 656 is broken to separate the hook end 651 from the attachment end 644 and provide evidence of tampering.

Another latch 750 shown in FIGS. 18 a and b and described with reference to the container 10 shown in FIG. 1 is also suitable for use with the containers 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 described above. The latch 750 is formed from two parts: a hook part 752 and an attachment part 754. The hook part 752 includes a hook 764 which wraps over the periphery edge 34 of the cover 30 to secure the cover 30 over the container open top, as described above. The attachment part 754 includes an attachment end 744 engaging the handle 20, as described above.

The parts 752, 754 are joined by a fastener 780, 781, such as a bolt 780 and wing nut 781 which draws the parts 752, 754 together to secure the cover 30 to the container 10. A flange 778 extending from each part 752, 754 includes a hole 782 for receiving the bolt 780 therethrough. Advantageously, the bolt 780 and wing nut 781 requires an extra effort to remove the cover 30, thus rendering the latch 750 more child-proof. If more security is required, the fastener can be a lock, such as a barrel lock, padlock, and the like, which locks the latch 750 over the cover 30 and prevents an unauthorized user from gaining access to the container contents.

While there have been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. 

1. A container for storing a product, said container comprising: at least one substantially vertical wall having a top edge defining an open top; and at least one handle forming part of said wall, said handle including a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device.
 2. The container as in claim 1, including a cover covering said open top and a securing device received in said opening, said securing device securing said cover over said open top.
 3. The container as in claim 2, in which said securing device is a latch including a hook wrapping over a periphery edge of said cover.
 4. The container as in claim 3, in which said latch includes a body extension extending through said opening in said handle wall.
 5. The container as in claim 4, in which said body extension includes at least one barb engaging an inner surface of said handle wall.
 6. The container as in claim 5, in which said latch includes a ledge, and said handle wall is a top wall sandwiched between said ledge and said at least one barb.
 7. The container as in claim 2, in which said securing device is a shipping strap extending through said opening and over said top edge.
 8. The container as in claim 1, in which said handle includes a side wall and said opening is a strap opening, and said securing device is a shipping strap extending through said strap opening and around a portion of a circumference of said container.
 9. The container as in claim 1, in which said substantially vertical wall is cylindrical.
 10. The container as in claim 1, in which said container includes more than one substantially vertical wall defining a polygonal shape.
 11. The container as in claim 1, in which said opening has a shape selected from a group consisting of round, oval, and polygonal.
 12. The container, as claimed in claim 1, in which said latch is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of plastic, rubber, and metal.
 13. The container as in claim 1, in which said container includes at least two of said handles and said at least two of said handles are bail handles, said container further including a bail having opposing ends, each end of said bail engaging one of said bail handles.
 14. The container as in claim 1, in which said handle wall is a front wall.
 15. The container as in claim 1, in which said handle wall is a side wall.
 16. The container as in claim 1, in which said handle wall is a top wall.
 17. The container as in claim 1, in which said securing device includes a weakened area which when broken provides evidence of tampering.
 18. The container as in claim 1, in which said securing device is formed from two parts joined by a fastener.
 19. The container as in claim 18, in which said fastener is a lock.
 20. A method of securing a cover over a container, said method comprising: providing a container having at least one handle, said handle including a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device; feeding a securing device through said opening.
 21. The method as in claim 20, in which said container includes an open top, and said method includes placing a cover over said open top of said container and positioning at least a portion of said securing device over at least a portion of said cover to secure said cover over said open top.
 22. The method as in claim 21, in which said securing device is a latch including an attachment end for engaging said handle and a hook end for engaging said cover, and said method includes engaging said attachment end with said handle, and hooking said hook end over at least a portion of said cover.
 23. The method as in claim 21, in which said securing device is a shipping strap, and said method includes positioning said shipping strap over said cover.
 24. The method as in claim 23, in which said container is a top container of a number of stacked containers, at least one other container of said stacked containers including a handle having a handle wall with an opening, and said method includes feeding said shipping strap through said opening of said at least one other container. 